Why the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS Was Needed

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared to properly address concerns raised by a U.S. District Court, and to increase opportunities for public and stakeholder participation in the environmental review process.

Presidential Permits and Right-of-Way Grants

Baja California Power, Inc. (BCP) and Sempra Energy Resources (SER) were issued presidential permits by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to separately construct double-circuit 230,000-volt (230-kV) electric transmission lines across the U.S. border with Mexico. In addition, right-of-way grants were issued to each company by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for construction of the domestic portion of both transmission lines on federal land.

Court Findings

Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), DOE and its cooperating agency in that proceeding, BLM, prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and a finding of no significant impacts (FONSIs) prior to issuance of the presidential permits and right-of-way grants. On May 2, 2003, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California held that the EA and the FONSI did not comply with NEPA, and, on July 8, 2003, the court sent the matter back to the respective agencies for additional NEPA review.

Why the EIS Was Prepared

In light of the concerns raised by the court in its decisions, and to increase opportunities for public and stakeholder participation in the environmental review of this proposal, DOE and BLM decided to prepare an EIS.